After consideration of the proposed amendment to the Statement of Principles, the order of consideration of planks is based first on the number of
affirmative votes in support of the amendment and then on the number of negative votes against the amendment. An exception was made to
consider the proposed amendment to III.5. Population immediately after I.20. Women's Rights and Abortion because the proposed amendment to
the former is solely to bring it into conformance with the proposed amendment to the latter, if adopted.

Text of proposals in order of current Platform.

For each proposal, the existing language is shown on the left and
the proposed changes are shown on the right.

We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the
omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.

We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion
over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner
they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal
right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the
opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of
individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States,
all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to
regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor
without their consent.

We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these
things, and hold that where government exist, they most not violate the
rights of any individual: namely (1) the right to life accordingly we
support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against
others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action accordingly we
oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech
and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the
right to property accordingly we oppose all government
interference with private property, such as confiscation,
nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of
robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights,
we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and
contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced
to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They
should be left free by government to deal with one another as free
traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible
with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

We, the members of the Libertarian Party, believe that all people
possess certain undeniable rights, and that among these are the
rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. We
champion the rights of the individual and hold that the sole
purpose of government is to safeguard these rights.challenge the
cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.

We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion
over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner
they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal
right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the
opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of
individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States,
all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to
regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor
without their consent.

We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these
things, and hold that where government exist, they most not violate the
rights of any individual: namely (1) the right to life accordingly we
support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against
others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action accordingly we
oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech
and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the
right to property accordingly we oppose all government
interference with private property, such as confiscation,
nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of
robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights,
we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and
contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced
to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They
should be left free by government to deal with one another as free
traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible
with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

No conflict exists between civil order and individual rights. Both
concepts are based on the same fundamental principle: that no
individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other
individual, group, or government.

No conflict exists between maintaining civil order and respecting
individual rights. Both concepts are based on the same fundamental
principle: that no individual, group, or government may initiate force
against any other individual, group, or government.

Members of the Libertarian Party do not necessarily advocate or
condone any of the practices our policies would make legal. Our
exclusion of moral approval and disapproval is deliberate: people's
rights must be recognized; the wisdom of any course of peaceful action
is a matter for the acting individual(s) to decide. Personal
responsibility is discouraged by government denying individuals the
opportunity to exercise it. Libertarian policies will create a society
where people are free to make and learn from their own decisions.

[replaced by the following language]

We believe that individuals should be free to make choices for
themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the
choices they make. We must accept the right of others to choose
for themselves if we are to have the same right. Our support of an
individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we
necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.

We believe people must accept personal responsibility for the
consequences of their actions. Libertarian policies will promote a
society where people are free to make and learn from their own
decisions. Personal responsibility is discouraged by government
denying individuals the opportunity to exercise it. In fact, the
denial of freedom fosters irresponsibility.

The continuing high level of violent crime -- and the government's
demonstrated inability to deal with it -- threatens the lives, happiness,
and belongings of Americans. At the same time, governmental
violations of rights undermine the people's sense of justice with regard
to crime. The appropriate way to suppress crime is through consistent
and impartial enforcement of laws that protect individual rights. Laws
pertaining to "victimless crimes" should be repealed since such laws
themselves violate individual rights and also breed other types of
crime. We applaud the trend toward private protection services and
voluntary community crime control groups. We support institutional
changes, consistent with full respect for the rights of the accused, that
would permit victims to direct the prosecution in criminal cases.

The continuing high level of violent crime -- and the government's
demonstrated inability to deal with it -- threatens the lives, happiness,
and belongings of Americans. At the same time, governmental
violations of rights undermine the people's sense of justice with regard
to crime. The appropriate way to suppress crime is through consistent
and impartial enforcement of laws that protect individual rights. Laws
pertaining to "victimless crimes" should be repealed since such laws
themselves violate individual rights and also breed genuine crime. We
applaud the trend toward private protection services and voluntary
community crime control groups. We support institutional changes,
consistent with full respect for the rights of the accused, that would
permit victims to direct the prosecution in criminal cases.

Until such time as persons are proved guilty of crimes, they should be
accorded full respect for their individual rights. We are thus opposed to
reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally
accused.

We oppose labeling cases as "civil" strictly to avoid the due process
protections of criminal law and we further oppose governmental civil
and criminal pretrial seizure of property for criminal offenses.

We oppose police officers using excessive force on the disorderly or
the criminally accused, handing out what they may consider to be
instant punishments on the streets, preventive detention, and no-knock
laws. Instant-punishment policies deprive the accused of important
checks on government power -- juries and the judicial process. We
oppose any concept that some individuals are by nature second-class
citizens who only understand instant punishment and any claim that
the police possess special insight into recognizing persons in need of
punishment.

We support full restitution for all loss suffered by persons arrested,
indicted, tried, imprisoned, or otherwise injured in the course of
criminal proceedings against them that do not result in their
conviction. When they are responsible, government police employees
or agents should be liable for this restitution.

We call for a reform of the judicial system allowing criminal
defendants and civil parties to a court action a reasonable number of
peremptory challenges to proposed judges, similar to their right under
the present system to challenge a proposed juror.

[replaced by the following language]

We support all constitutional guarantees which require that, until
an individual is proved guilty, all of his or her rights shall be
respected by the government.

We support expanding the same due process protections that
apply to criminal law cases to civil law cases. This will assure that
cases are not labeled "civil" to circumvent adhering to those due
process protections.

We support banning police powers which violate individual rights.
These include use of excessive force, preventive detention, and no-
knock laws. We particularly oppose the currently widespread
practice of seizing property based only on suspicion of a crime.

We support laws calling for restitution for all loss suffered by
persons during criminal proceedings that do not result in their
conviction.

Because life cannot be restored to a person who is wrongly
executed, we oppose the death penalty in all cases.

We support judicial system reform to allow criminal defendants
and civil parties to court action the right to peremptory challenge
to proposed judges, just as they can challenge proposed jurors.

The present system of criminal law is based almost solely on
punishment with little concern for the victim. We support restitution
for the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the
criminal or wrongdoer.

We oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of
self-defense.

We oppose all "no-fault" insurance laws, which deprive the victim of
the right to recover damages from those responsible in the case of
injury. We also support the right of the victim to pardon the criminal
or wrongdoer, barring threats to the victim for this purpose. We
applaud the growth of private adjudication of disputes by mutually
acceptable judges.

We support a change in rape laws so that cohabitation will no longer
be a defense against a charge of rape.

[replaced by the following language]

The present system of criminal law focuses on punishment of the
criminal with little concern for the victim. We support changing
that focus to provide for restitution for the victim to the fullest
degree possible at the expense of the wrongdoer.

We believe that laws which limit the rights of victims to recover
losses are unfair. We support repeal of "no-fault" insurance laws
which deprive the victim of the right to recover damages from
those responsible in the case of injury. We also support the right
of the victim to pardon the wrongdoer.

We support the growth of private adjudication of disputes by
mutually accepted judges or arbitrators.

We support a change in rape laws so that cohabitation will no longer
be a defense against a charge of rape.

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights --
life, liberty, and justly acquired property -- against aggression, whether
by force or fraud. This right inheres in the individual, who -- with his
or her consent -- may be aided by any other individual or group.

The right of defense extends to defense against aggressive acts of
government. We favor an immediate end to the doctrine of "Sovereign
Immunity" which ignores the primacy of the individual over the
abstraction of the State, and holds that the State, contrary to the
tradition of redress of grievances, may not be sued without its
permission or held accountable for its actions under civil law.

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights --
life, liberty, and justly acquired property -- against aggression, whether
by force or fraud. This right inheres in the individual, who -- with his
or her consent -- may be aided by any other individual or group. The
right of defense extends to defense against aggressive acts of
government -- domestic or foreign.

We support an end to the doctrine of "Sovereign Immunity" which
holds that the government cannot be sued or held accountable
under civil law without its permission.

The right of defense extends to defense against aggressive acts of
government. We favor an immediate end to the doctrine of "Sovereign
Immunity" which ignores the primacy of the individual over the
abstraction of the State, and holds that the State, contrary to the
tradition of redress of grievances, may not be sued without its
permission or held accountable for its actions under civil law.

We defend the rights of individuals to engage in (or abstain from) any
religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. In order to
defend freedom, we advocate a strict separation of church and State.
We oppose government actions that either aid or attack any religion.
We oppose taxation of church property for the same reason that we
oppose all taxation. We oppose the harassment of churches by the
Internal Revenue Service through threats to deny tax-exempt status to
churches that refuse to disclose massive amounts of information about
themselves.

We condemn the attempts by parents or any others -- via kidnaps or
conservatorship to force children to conform to any religious views.
Government harassment or obstruction of religious groups for their
beliefs or non-violent activities must end.

[replaced by the following language]

We support the right of individuals to engage in any religious
activities that do not violate the rights of others. To defend this
right, we support strict separation of church and state.

We oppose taxation of church property for the same reason that
we oppose all taxation. We oppose harassment of churches by
government for any reason.

We condemn the government's use of secret classifications to keep
from the public information that it should have. We favor substituting
a system in which no individual may be convicted for violating
government
secrecy classifications unless the government discharges its burden of
proving that the publication:

a. violated the right of privacy of those who have been coerced
into revealing confidential or proprietary information to government
agents, or

b. disclosed defensive military plans so as to materially impair the
capabilities to respond to attack.

It should always be a defense to such prosecution that information
divulged shows that the government has violated the law

[replaced by the following language]

We support replacing current government secrecy laws. No
individual should be convicted for violating secrecy classifications
unless the government first proves that the individual disclosed
military plans so as to materially impair the capabilities to
respond to attack. It should always be a defense to such
prosecution that the information divulged shows that the
government has violated the law.

We call for abolition of secret police, such as the Central Intelligence
Agency. We support Congressional investigation of criminal activities
of the CIA and FBI and of wrongdoing by other governmental
agencies.

We support the abolition of the subpoena power as used by
Congressional committees against individuals or firms. We oppose any
efforts to revive the House Internal Security Committee or its
predecessor the House Un-American Activities Committee, and call
for the destruction of its files on private individuals and groups. We
also call for the abolition of the Senate Subcommittee on Internal
Security.

We call for abolition of secret police, such as the Central Intelligence
Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We support
Congressional investigation of criminal activities of the CIA and FBI
and of wrongdoing by other governmental agencies.

We believe that government employees who have violated the law
should be tried, convicted, and punished under the laws they
violated.

We believe that Congress should not investigate individuals or
firms because they are believed to be unsupportive of the
government or its policies. We would destroy all records from
prior investigations regarding such matters.

We support the abolition of the subpoena power as used by
Congressional committees against individuals or firms. We oppose any
efforts to revive the House Internal Security Committee or its
predecessor the House Un-American Activities Committee, and call
for the destruction of its files on private individuals and groups. We
also call for the abolition of the Senate Subcommittee on Internal
Security.

The Bill of Rights recognizes that an armed citizenry is essential to a
free society. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms and oppose all
laws at any level of government restricting, regulating, or requiring the
ownership, manufacture, transfer, or sale of firearms or ammunition.
We oppose all laws requiring registration of firearms or ammunition.
We also oppose any government efforts to ban or restrict the use of
tear gas, "mace," or other self-protection devices. We further oppose
all attempts to ban weapons or ammunition on the grounds that they
are risky or unsafe.

We support repeal of the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the
Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, and we demand the immediate
abolition of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

We favor the repeal of laws banning the concealment of weapons or
prohibiting pocket weapons. We also oppose the banning of
inexpensive handguns ("Saturday night specials"), and semi-automatic
or so-called assault weapons and their magazines or feeding devices.

[replaced by the following language]

We affirm the right to keep and bear arms. Therefore, we oppose
all laws at any level of government relating in any way to the
peaceful manufacturing, possession, or use of firearms,
ammunition, or weapons of any sort. We also oppose any laws
require registration, regulate handling, regulate concealment, or
limit their use in self-defense. We support the abolition of the
agencies created to enforce them.

As an interim measure, we support passage of so-called "shall
issue" legislation putting the burden of proof back where it
belongs -- on government -- to show why a "concealed carry
permit" should not be issued to any applicant.

The minority objects to the proposed changes to this plank. The voters
ought to know that only the Libertarian Party calls for the outright
repeal of the National Firearms Act, the Federal Gun Control Act of
1968, the Crime Control Act of 1994, and the Brady Act.

The original language of the plank called for the "immediate abolition
of the BATF." The Libertarian Party was the first to call attention to
the excesses of the BATF. We should continue to call for the abolition
of this agency.

The minority favored two amendments to the original plank, both of
which strengthened it. We ought to confirm unequivocally that the LP
supports the right to keep and bear arms.

Our amendments are set forth in the revised text that follows. They
would add to our platform a reference to repealing the Crime Control
Act of 1994 and the Brady Act, as well as adding our support for the
so-call "shall issue" legislation.

We urge the delegates to adopt the minority proposal, or at the very
least to retain the existing plank.

The Bill of Rights recognizes that an armed citizenry is essential to a
free society. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms and oppose all
laws at any level of government restricting, regulating, or requiring the
ownership, manufacture, transfer, or sale of firearms or ammunition.
We oppose all laws requiring registration of firearms or ammunition.
We also oppose any government efforts to ban or restrict the use of
tear gas, "mace," or other self-protection devices. We further oppose
all attempts to ban weapons or ammunition on the grounds that they
are risky or unsafe.

We support repeal of the National Firearms Act of 1934 and, the
Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, the Crime Control Act of 1994,
and the Brady Act, and we demand the immediate abolition of the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

We favor the repeal of laws banning the concealment of weapons or
prohibiting pocket weapons. We also oppose the banning of
inexpensive handguns ("Saturday night specials"), and semi-automatic
or so-called assault weapons and their magazines or feeding devices.

As an interim measure, we support passage of so-called "shall
issue" legislation putting the burden of proof back where it
belongs on government to show why a "concealed carry
permit" should not be issued to any applicant.

We hold that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the
basis of nationality. We condemn massive roundups of Hispanic
Americans and others by the federal government in its hunt for
individuals not possessing required government documents. We
strongly oppose all measures that punish employers who hire
undocumented workers. Such measures repress free enterprise, harass
workers, and systematically discourage employers from hiring
Hispanics.

We welcome all refugees to our country and condemn the efforts of
U.S. officials to create a new "Berlin Wall" which would keep them
captive. We condemn the U.S. government's policy of barring those
refugees from our country and preventing Americans from assisting
their passage to help them escape tyranny or improve their economic
prospects.

Undocumented non-citizens should not be denied the fundamental
freedom to labor and to move about unmolested. Furthermore,
immigration must not be restricted for reasons of race, religion,
political creed, age, or sexual preference.

We therefore call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration,
the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the
Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who
have entered the country illegally. We oppose government welfare and
resettlement payments to non-citizens just as we oppose government
welfare payments to all other persons.

[replaced by the following language]

We believe that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the
basis of nationality.

We hold that the solution to immigration problems is not more
government restrictions, but an end to those welfare incentives
which attract non-productive immigrants to this nation. We
oppose government welfare and resettlement payments to non-
citizens just as we oppose government welfare payments to all
other persons.

We also believe that immigration should not be denied to law-
abiding persons for reasons of race, religion, gender, political
creed, age, or sexual orientation. We welcome all peaceful
refugees to our country. We support the fundamental freedom of
all law-abiding persons to labor and to move about unmolested.

We call for the elimination of all restriction on immigration, the
abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border
Patrol, and a declaration of fell amnesty for all people who have
entered the country illegally.

Minority Report

Submitted by: Tim O'Brien. John Brown, Henry Haller,
Elizabeth Macron

The vote was 11-4 on this plank.

The minority objects to the proposed changes to this plank. We
recommend keeping the language as it is in the Platform, with two
minor changes:

Add the word "peaceful" prior to "refugees" in the first
sentence of the second paragraph, and
Change the last word in the third paragraph from "preference"
to "orientation."

Rationale: Rejecting the use of force to keep people from crossing
arbitrary lines (i.e., borders) is a core libertarian position. The "Berlin
Wall" analogy is an excellent way of making this point, and should be
kept.

We urge the delegates to retain the original plank. The LP mustcontinue to condemn the government's policy of barring refugees from
our country and preventing Americans from assisting them to escape
tyranny.

Furthermore, the proposed new language drops all reference to
employers who are harassed by government agents because they may
have hired undocumented workers, and to Hispanics who are impeded
from finding employment due to the resulting reluctance of employers
to hire them. These are significant grievances, and should be left in
Platform

We hold that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the
basis of nationality. We condemn massive roundups of Hispanic
Americans and others by the federal government in its hunt for
individuals not possessing required government documents. We
strongly oppose all measures that punish employers who hire
undocumented workers. Such measures repress free enterprise, harass
workers, and systematically discourage employers from hiring
Hispanics.

We welcome all peaceful refugees to our country and condemn the
efforts of U.S. officials to create a new "Berlin Wall" which would
keep them captive. We condemn the U.S. government's policy of
barring those refugees from our country and preventing Americans
from assisting their passage to help them escape tyranny or improve
their economic prospects.

Undocumented non-citizens should not be denied the fundamental
freedom to labor and to move about unmolested. Furthermore,
immigration must not be restricted for reasons of race, religion,
political creed, age, or sexual orientationpreference.

We therefore call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration,
the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the
Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who
have entered the country illegally. We oppose government welfare and
resettlement payments to non-citizens just as we oppose government
welfare payments to all other persons.

Individual rights should not be denied, abridged, or enhanced at the
expense of other people's rights, on the basis of sex, wealth, race,
color, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference,
or sexual orientation by the laws at any level of government.
Protective labor laws, Selective Service laws, and other laws that
violate rights selectively should be repealed entirely rather than be
extended to all groups.

Discrimination imposed by the government has brought disruption in
normal relationships of people, set neighbor against neighbor, created
gross injustices, destroyed voluntary communities, and diminished
human potential. Anti-discrimination laws enforced by the government
are the reverse side of the coin, and will for the same reasons create the
same problems. Consequently, we oppose any government attempts to
regulate private discrimination, including choices and preferences, in
employment, housing, and privately owned businesses. The right to
trade includes the right not to trade -- for any reasons whatsoever; the
right of association includes the right not to associate, for exercise of
the right depends upon mutual consent.

[replaced by the following language]

Individual rights should not be denied, abridged, or enhanced at
the expense of other people's rights by the laws at any level of
government based on sex, wealth, race, color, creed, age, national
origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation.

We support repealing any such laws rather that extending them to
all individuals.

Discrimination imposed by government has caused a multitude of
problems. Anti-discrimination laws create the same problems.
While we do not advocate or condone private discrimination in
any way, we do not support any laws which attempt to limit or ban
it.

The right to trade includes the right not to trade -- for any reasons
whatsoever; the right of association includes the right not to
associate, for exercise of the right depends upon mutual consent.

We hold that individual rights should not be denied or abridged on the
basis of sex. We call for repeal of all laws discriminating against
women, such as protective labor laws and marriage or divorce laws
which deny the full rights of men and women. We oppose all laws
likely to impose restrictions on free choice and private property or to
widen tyranny through reverse discrimination.

Recognizing that abortion is a very sensitive issue and that libertarians
can hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe the government
should be kept entirely out of the question, allowing all individuals to
be guided by their own consciences. We oppose all restrictions on the
sale of RU 486, and on the sale of menstruation-inducing contragestive
pills, which block fertilized eggs from attaching themselves to the
womb. We oppose legislation restricting or subsidizing women's access
to abortion or other reproductive health services; this includes requiring
consent of the prospective father, waiting periods, and mandatory
indoctrination on fetal development, as well as Medicaid or any other
taxpayer funding. It is particularly harsh to force someone who believes
that abortion is murder to pay for another's abortion.

We also condemn state-mandated abortions.

It is the right and obligation of the pregnant woman, not the state, to
decide the desirability or appropriateness of prenatal testing, Caesarean
births, fetal surgery, voluntary surrogacy arrangements, and/or home
births.

We hold that individual rights should not be denied or abridged on the
basis of sex. We call for repeal of all laws discriminating against
women, such as protective labor laws and marriage or divorce laws
which deny the full rights of men and women. We oppose all laws
likely to impose restrictions on free choice and private property or to
widen tyranny through reverse discrimination.

Recognizing that abortion is a very sensitive issue and that libertarians
can hold good-faith views on both sides, we take no position as a
party on this issue.believe the government should be kept entirely
out of the question, allowing all individuals to be guided by their own
consciences. We oppose all restrictions on the sale of RU 486, and on
the sale of menstruation-inducing contragestive pills, which block
fertilized eggs from attaching themselves to the womb. WeHowever,
we oppose legislation subsidizing women's access to abortion or other
reproductive health services ; this includes requiring consent of the
prospective father, waiting periods, and mandatory indoctrination on
fetal development, as well as Medicaid or any other taxpayer funding.

We also condemn state-mandated abortion.

It is the right and obligation of the pregnant woman, not the state, to
decide the desirability or appropriateness of prenatal testing, Caesarean
births, fetal surgery, voluntary surrogacy arrangements, and/or home
births.

The minority recommends a different replacement for the current plank.

Rationale: We must preserve the language "we believe that
government should be kept entirely out of the question...."

We should adopt language to support voluntary methods of reducing
abortions and not delete language that demands language that demands
the government stay out of the process.

This substitute plank is inclusive with room for all Libertarian views,
while rejecting any government controls.

[replaced by the following language]

We believe that individual rights should not be denied or
abridged on the basis of sex. We support repeal of all laws which
do so.

Recognizing that abortion is a very sensitive issue and that
libertarians can hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe
that government should be kept entirely out of the question,
allowing all individuals to be guided by conscience. We applaud
those individuals who seek to reduce the number of abortions by
such voluntary actions as working for less restrictive adoption
laws, encouraging private educational efforts to show women the
alternatives to abortion, helping arrange adoption, and repealing
the income tax so that parents can afford to spend time teaching
their children the values that will minimize teenage pregnancies.

We believe that government has no appropriate role to play in
matters involving human reproduction, including funding either
abortions or medical care for those deciding to have children. It is
the right and obligation of the pregnant woman to deal with such
matters as she sees fit.

We support protection of the integrity of families and households as
contractual institutions against government intrusion and interference.
Such governmental interference has undermined the value of families
and households as cultural institutions of love, nurture, companionship,
kinship, and personal development by forcing them to conform to a
rigid, inflexible design. Moreover, we condemn the usurpation by
government through morals laws, government welfare programs, and
government schools, of activities long carried on by families and
households. We further accuse government of designing educational
programs that place civic and moral education under the control of
politicians and of designing welfare laws that destroy families and
households.

[replaced by the following language]

We believe that families and households are private institutions
which should be free from government intrusion and interference.
We believe that increased government involvement in traditional
parenting responsibilities has weakened families and replaced
family-taught morals with government-taught morals. We believe
that families will benefit from a withdrawal of government
involvement.

Children are human beings and have, potentially, all the rights of
human beings. However, lack of maturity necessarily limits a
child's exercise of rights.

Children should always have the right to establish their maturity
by assuming administration and protection of their own rights,
ending dependency upon their parents, or other guardians, and
assuming all responsibilities of adulthood.

Parents have no right to abandon or recklessly endanger their
children.

Whenever parents or other guardians are unable or unwilling to to
assume the appropriate responsibility to raise their children, those
guardians have the right to see, and the obligation to find, other
person(s) who are willing to assume guardianship. Accordingly,
we oppose all laws that impede these processes, notably those
restricting private adoption services. We also call for the abolition
of all laws restricting transracial adoption.

We oppose all laws that empower government officials to seize
children and make them "wards of the state," or, by means of
child labor laws and compulsory education laws, to infringe on
their freedom to work or learn. We oppose the increasing use of
curfews based solely on age.

We call for an end to the practice in many states of jailing children
not accused of any crime. We seek repeal of all "children's codes"
or statutes which abridge due process protections for young
people. We further favor the abolition of the juvenile court
system, so that juveniles, and/or their parents, will be held fully
responsible for their crimes.

First, the Platform Committee adopted language to replace the entire
existing Family Life plank with the first paragraph of the majority
report. The vote was 11-5 to do so. We join the majority in support of
adoption of the first paragraph to replace the existing plank.. However
we dissent from adding the next six paragraphs.

These final six paragraphs are an imperfect attempt to restore language
regarding children's rights -- a plank that was deleted two years ago.

We believe that the issue of children's rights is far too difficult to define
and adequately cover within the context of a platform plank.
Furthermore, there exists reasonable differences in the application of
libertarian principles to matters involving children's rights.

Does a 10 year old have the right to keep and bear arms? Does a 7 year
old have the right to take addictive drugs? Does a 4 year old have the
right to decline surgery because it might hurt? These are just a few of
the sorts of questions that are raised if we adopt this language.

We believe that in areas where the application of libertarian principles
does not lead to a single, unique, overwhelming consensus among our
members, than it is preferable to remain silent on the issue. The
existing Omissions plank provides the necessary disclaimer to refute
any suggestion that our silence on the issue implies our willingness to
assent to government involvement in the issue.

[replaced by the following language]

We believe that families and households are private institutions
which should be free from government intrusion and interference.
We believe that increased government involvement in traditional
parenting responsibilities has weakened families and replaced
family-taught morals with government-taught morals. We believe
that families will benefit from a withdrawal of government
involvement.

The major factors underlying the unconscionable plight of America's
Indians may be summarized as follows: (1) the unresolved complexity
of dual national citizenship; (2) the attrition of reservation lands and
abridgement of Indian rights to remaining properties; (3) the
subjugation of individual Indians to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and
tribal governmental authority; and (4) various federal commitments to
provide the tribes with health, education, and welfare benefits "forever"
in exchange for expropriated lands.

We favor the following remedies, respectively: (1) individual Indians
should be free to select their citizenship, if any, and tribes should be
allowed to choose their level of autonomy, up to absolute sovereignty;
(2) Indians should have their just property rights restored, including
rights of easement, access, hunting and fishing; (3) the Bureau of Indian
Affairs should be abolished and tribal members allowed to decide the
extent and nature of their government, if any; and (4) negotiations
should be undertaken to exchange various otherwise unclaimed and
unowned federal properties for any and all remaining governmental
obligations to the tribes.

We further advocate holding fully liable those responsible for any and
all damages which have resulted from authorization of, or engagement
in, resource development on reservation lands, including damages done
by careless disposal of uranium tailings and other mineral wastes.

[replaced by the following language]

The rights of American Indians have been usurped over the years.
We support the following remedies: (1) individuals should be free
to select their own citizenship and tribes should be free to select
the level of autonomy the tribe wishes, (2) Indians should have
their property rights restored, including rights of easement, access,
hunting, and fishing, (3) the Bureau of Indian Affairs should be
abolished leaving tribal members to determine their own system of
governance, and (4) negotiations should be undertaken to resolve
all outstanding differences between the tribes and the government.

Because each person has the right to offer goods and services to others
on the free market, and because government interference can only harm
such free activity, we oppose all intervention by government into the
area of economics. The only proper role of existing governments in the
economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and
provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected.

Efforts to forcibly redistribute wealth or forcibly manage trade are
intolerable. Government manipulation of the economy creates an
entrenched privileged class -- those with access to tax money -- and an
exploited class -- those who are net taxpayers.

[replaced by the following language]

We believe that each person has the right to offer goods and
services to others on the free market. Therefore we oppose all
intervention by government into the area of economics. The only
proper role of existing governments in the economic realm is to
protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal
framework in which voluntary trade is protected.

We believe that all individuals have the right to dispose of the
fruits of their labor as they see fit and that government has no
right to take such wealth. We do not believe in government-
enforced charity such as welfare programs and subsidies, enforced
"charity" such as welfare programs and subsidies, but we heartily
applaud those individuals and private charitable organizations
that help the needy and contribute to a wide array of worthwhile
causes through voluntary activities.

Government intervention in the economy imperils both the personal
freedom and the material prosperity of every American. We therefore
support the following specific immediate reforms:

a. drastic reduction of both taxes and government spending;

b. an end to deficit budgets;

c. a halt to inflationary monetary policies;

d. the removal of all governmental impediments to free trade; and

e. the repeal of all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits,
production, and interest rates.

[replaced by the following language]

Government intervention in the economy imperils both the personal
freedom and the material prosperity of every American. In order to
ensure the economic freedom and enhance the economic well-
being of Americans, we would implement the following policies:

a. Dramatic reductions in both taxes and government
spending;

b. An end to deficit budgets;

c. A halt to inflationary monetary policies;

d. The elimination of all government impediments to free
trade; and

e. The repeal of all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits,
production, and interest rates.

We support the drive for a constitutional amendment requiring the
national government to balance its budget, and also support similar
amendments to require balanced state budgets. To be effective, a
balanced budget amendment should provide:

a. that neither Congress nor the President be permitted to override
this requirement;

b. that all off-budget items are included in the budget;

c. that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures,
and not by raising taxes; and

d. that no exception be made for periods of national emergency.

The Federal Reserve should be forbidden to acquire any additional
government securities, thereby helping to eliminate the inflationary
aspect of the deficit. Governments facing fiscal crises should always
default in preference to raising taxes. At a minimum, the level of
government should be frozen.

We support a constitutional amendment which would require the
federal government to balance its budget. We support the same
objective at the state level.We support the drive for a constitutional
amendment requiring the national government to balance its budget,
and also support similar amendments to require balanced state budgets.
To be effective, a balanced budget amendment should provide:

a. That neither Congress nor the President be permitted to
override this requirement;

b. That all off-budget items are included in the budget;

c. That the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting
expenditures, not by raising taxes; and

d. That no exception be made for periods of national emergency.

e. That the Federal Reserve System should be abolished.

The Federal Reserve should be forbidden to acquire any additional
government securities, thereby helping to eliminate the inflationary
aspect of the deficit. Governments facing fiscal crises should always
default in preference to raising taxes. At a minimum, the level of
government should be frozen.

Pollution of other people's property is a violation of individual rights.
Present legal principles, particularly the unjust and false concept of
"public property," block privatization of the use of the environment and
hence block resolution of controversies over resource use. We support
the development of an objective legal system defining property rights to
air and water. We call for a modification of the laws governing such
torts as trespass and nuisance to cover damages done by air, water,
radiation, and noise pollution. We oppose legislative proposals to
exempt persons who claim damage from radiation from having to prove
such damage was in fact caused by radiation. Strict liability, not
government agencies and arbitrary government standards, should
regulate pollution. We therefore demand the abolition of the
Environmental Protection Agency. We also oppose government-
mandated smoking and non-smoking areas in privately owned
businesses.

Toxic waste disposal problems have been created by government
policies that separate liability from property. Rather than making
taxpayers pay for toxic waste clean-ups, individual property owners, or
in the case of corporations, the responsible managers and employees,
should be held strictly liable for material damage done by their
property. Claiming that one has abandoned a piece of property does not
absolve one of the responsibility for actions one has set in motion. We
condemn the EPA's Superfund whose taxing powers are used to
penalize all chemical firms, regardless of their conduct. Such clean-ups
are a subsidy of irresponsible companies at the expense of responsible
ones.

Pollution of other people's property is a violation of individual rights.
Present legal principles, particularly the unjust and false concept of
"public property," block privatization of the use of the environment
and hence block resolution of controversies over resource use. We
support the development of an objective legal system defining property
rights to air and water. We call for a modification of the laws
governing such torts as trespass and nuisance to cover damages done
by air, water, radiation, and noise pollution. We oppose legislative
proposals to exempt persons who claim damage from radiation from
having to prove such damage was in fact caused by radiation. Strict
liability, not government agencies and arbitrary government standards,
should regulate pollution. We therefore demand the abolition of the
Environmental Protection Agency. We also oppose government-mandated
smoking and non-smoking areas in privately owned
businesses.

Toxic waste disposal problems have been created by government
policies that separate liability from property. Rather than making
taxpayers pay for toxic waste clean-ups, individual property owners, or
in the case of corporations, the responsible managers and employees,
should be held strictly liable for material damage done by their
property. Claiming that one has abandoned a piece of property does
not absolve one of the responsibility for actions one has set in motion.
We condemn the EPA's Superfund whose taxing powers are used to
penalize all chemical firms, regardless of their conduct. Such clean-ups
are a subsidy of irresponsible companies at the expense of responsible
ones.

Recognizing that the American people are not a collective national
resource, we oppose all coercive measures for population control.

We oppose government actions that either compel or prohibit abortion,
sterilization, or any other forms of birth control. Specifically, we
condemn the vicious practice of forced sterilization of welfare
recipients or of mentally retarded or "genetically defective" individuals.

We regard the tragedies caused by unplanned, unwanted pregnancies to
be aggravated, if not created, by government policies of censorship,
restriction, regulation, and prohibition. Therefore, we call for the repeal
of all laws that restrict anyone, including children, from engaging in
voluntary exchanges of goods, services, or information regarding
human sexuality, reproduction, birth control, or related medical or
biological technologies.

We equally oppose government laws and policies that restrict the
opportunity to choose alternatives to abortion.

We support an end to all subsidies for childbearing built into our
present laws, including welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported
services for children. We urge the elimination of special tax burdens on
single people and couples with few or no children.

Recognizing that the American people are not a collective national
resource, we oppose all coercive measures for population control.

We oppose government actions that either compel or prohibit abortion,
sterilization, or any other forms of birth control. Specifically, we
condemn the vicious practice of forced sterilization of welfare
recipients or of mentally retarded or "genetically defective"
individuals.

We regard the tragedies caused by unplanned, unwanted pregnancies
to be aggravated, if not created, by government policies of censorship,
restriction, regulation, and prohibition. Therefore, we call for the
repeal of all laws that restrict anyone, including children, from
engaging in voluntary exchanges of goods, services, or information
regarding human sexuality, reproduction, birth control, or related
medical or biological technologies.

We equally oppose government laws and policies that restrict the
opportunity to choose alternatives to abortion.

We support an end to all subsidies for childbearing built into our
present laws, including welfare plans and the provision of tax-
supported services for children. We urge the elimination of special tax
burdens on single people and couples with few or no children.

We support allowing the free market to Government interference in
transportation is characterized by monopolistic restriction, corruption
and gross inefficiency. We therefore call for the dissolution of all
government agencies concerned with transportation, including the
Department of Transportation, the Interstate Commerce Commission,
the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety
Board, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Maritime Commission, and the
transfer of their legitimate functions to competitive private firms. We
demand the return of America's railroad system to private ownership.
We call for the privatization of airports, air traffic control systems,
public roads, and the national highway system. We condemn the
re-cartelization of commercial aviation by the Federal Aviation
Administration via rationing of take-off and landing rights and
controlling scheduling in the name of "safety."

As interim, we advocate an immediate end to government regulation of
private transit organizations and to governmental favors to the
transportation industry. In particular, we support the immediate repeal
of all laws restricting transit competition such as the granting of taxicab
and bus monopolies and the prohibition of private jitney services. We
urge immediate deregulation of the trucking industry. Likewise, we
advocate the immediate repeal of federally imposed speed limits.

We support allowing the free market to Government interference in
transportation is characterized by monopolistic restriction, corruption
and gross inefficiency. We therefore call for the dissolution of all
government agencies concerned with transportation, including the
Department of Transportation, the Interstate Commerce Commission,
the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation
Safety Board, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Maritime Commission,
and the transfer of their legitimate functions to competitive private
firms. We demand the return of America's railroad system to private
ownership. We call for the privatization of airports, air traffic control
systems, public roads, and the national highway system. We condemn
the re-cartelization of commercial aviation by the Federal Aviation
Administration via rationing of take-off and landing rights and
controlling scheduling in the name of "safety."

As interim, we advocate an immediate end to government regulation of
private transit organizations and to governmental favors to the
transportation industry. In particular, we support the immediate repeal
of all laws restricting transit competition such as the granting of
taxicaband bus monopolies and the prohibition of private jitney
services. We urge immediate deregulation of the trucking industry.
Likewise, we advocate the immediate repeal of federally imposed
speed limits

We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We
oppose the efforts of Washington politicians to place all the spending
on health in American society within a federally-planned overall health
budget.

A new national health budget will necessitate not only federal price
controls on health care services -- with all the waiting lines and
distortions that accompany price controls -- but also rationing of health
care. The bureaucratic, top-down system called "managed competition"
that is to determine what-gets-spent-on-what cannot escape being a
political scramble by special interests seeking health dollars and could
never be an adequate substitute for completely free competition in the
medical marketplace.

We advocate the complete separation of medicine and State.
Recognizing the individual's right to self-medication, we seek the
elimination of all government restrictions on the right of individuals to
pursue alternative forms of health care. Individuals should be free to
contract with practitioners of their choice for all health care services.
We oppose any government infringement upon the practitioner-patient
relationship through regulatory agencies or contracted review
organizations. We condemn the practice of criminally prosecuting
medical practitioners under the anti-trust laws.

We oppose any form of compulsory National Health Insurance,
including mandatory health insurance benefits required of employers by
the government. We favor abolition of Medicare and Medicaid
programs. We also oppose any state or federal area planning boards
whose stated purpose is to consolidate health services or avoid their
duplication. We support the removal of all government barriers to
medical advertising, including prohibition of publication of doctors'
fees and drug prices. We further support the elimination of laws
requiring prescriptions for the dispensing of medicines and other
health-related items.

We condemn efforts by government to impose a medical orthodoxy on
society. We specifically condemn attempts by the F.D.A. to restrict the
use of vitamins, herbs, and other supplements. Until such time as the
tyrannical and futile drug prohibition is repealed, we advocate
immediate reclassification of all drugs, particularly marijuana and
heroin, to make them available for medicinal use.

We oppose the attempt by state and local governments to deny parents
the right to choose the option of home births and to discourage the
development of privately funded women's clinics. We call for the repeal
of all laws that restrict the practice of lay midwifery or that permit
harassment of lay midwives and home birth practitioners. We also call
for the repeal of all medical licensing laws, which have raised medical
costs while creating a government-imposed monopoly of doctors and
hospitals.

Since a person's body is his or her own property, we favor repeal of the
existing prohibition on the commercial sale and purchase of body parts.

We favor the deregulation of the health insurance industry, and oppose
government- imposed limits on its use of genetic and other screening
and testing methods. We oppose laws that limit the freedom of contract
of patients and health care professionals, and laws regulating the
supply of legal aid on a contingency fee basis. We also oppose subsidy
of malpractice insurance through public funds. We call for the repeal of
laws forcing health care professionals to render medical services in
emergencies or other situations.

We recognize that AIDS is a dread disease of epidemic proportions. But
governmental proposals to combat it present an unprecedented threat to
individual liberty and often encourage the spread of the disease. We
oppose all government-mandated AIDS testing. We are opposed to
FDA restrictions which make it difficult for individuals to secure
treatment for this disease. We also call for the decriminalization of
hypodermic syringes, especially since sharing needles is now a major
means of transmission of the disease. We oppose government-mandated
contact tracing and state intervention into the private medical records of
individuals. We are opposed to efforts by the government, especially
the postal service, to restrict the dissemination of AIDS education
material. We support the rights of all individuals to freedom of
association including the right not to associate.

We condemn attempts at the federal, state, or local level to cripple the
advance of science by governmental restriction of research. We oppose
subsidies to, or restrictions of, medical education. We call for an end to
government policies compelling individuals to submit to medical
experiments, treatment, and testing. We condemn compulsory
hospitalization, compulsory vaccination, and compulsory fluoridation.
As interim measures, we advocate dollar-for-dollar tax credits to any
individual or group providing health care services to the needy or
paying for such services. Tax credits should also be made available for
private grants to medical education and medical research.

Because all individuals should have full responsibility and control of
their own lives, we support the right of terminally or hopelessly ill
persons to end their lives. We support the freedom to use living wills
and durable medical powers of attorney in which individuals declare the
manner in which they are to be treated and the procedures for disposal
of their remains. In the absence of such wills and the ability for the
individual to choose (e.g. coma) the matter should be decided by such
person or persons as the individual may have clearly preferred, with
whatever guidance they may desire. In keeping with the principle of
non-coercion, no individual shall be forced to either continue or
terminate life sustaining care. This right does not entitle individuals to
force medical professionals or others to assist them in ending their lives
or in continuing life support.

Because existing tax policy has dampened price competition and
consumer cost-consciousness in the medical industry, we would
provide not only tax breaks for employer-provided health plans (whose
value is not currently taxed as income), but also individual tax credits
so that families can choose their own health plans.

[replaced by the following language]

Recent decades have witnessed growing government involvement
in the health care system. That involvement has led to
bureaucratic top-down management, rapidly escalating prices,
costly regulations, and a host of other problems. None of these
problems was prevalent prior to the time when government began
to increase its involvement. We believe that government
involvement is the principle cause of many of the problems we face
in the health care system today. Therefore we favor restoring and
reviving a free market health care system.

We advocate a complete separation of medicine from the state.
We recognize the right of individuals to determine free from
government interference and its harmful side effects the level of
insurance they want, the level of care they want, the care providers
they want, the medicines and treatments they will use, and all
other aspects of their medical care. We oppose any government
restriction on funding of medical or scientific research, including
cloning.

We support an end to government-provided health insurance and
health care. Both of these functions can be more effectively
provide in the private sector. The high cost of health insurance is
largely due to government's excessive regulation of the industry.
Government's role in any kind of insurance should only be to
enforce contracts when necessary, not to dictate to insurance
companies and consumers which kinds of insurance contracts they
may voluntarily agree upon.

We call for an end to government control of political parties, consistent
with First Amendment rights to freedom of association and freedom of
expression. As private voluntary groups, political parties should be
allowed to establish their own rules for nomination procedures,
primaries, and conventions.

We urge repeal of the Federal Election Campaign Act which suppresses
voluntary support of candidates and parties, compels taxpayers to
subsidize politicians and political views which many do not wish to
support, invades the privacy of American citizens, and protects the
Republican and Democratic parties from competition. This law is
particularly dangerous as it enables the federal government to control
the elections of its own further reducing its accountability to the
citizens.

Elections at all levels should be in the control of those who wish to
participate in or support them voluntarily. We therefore call for an end
to any tax-financed subsidies to candidates or parties and the repeal of
all laws which restrict voluntary financing of election campaigns.

Many state legislatures have established prohibitively restrictive laws
which in effect exclude alternative candidates and parties from their
rightful place on election ballots. Such laws wrongfully deny ballot
access to political candidates and groups and further deny the voters
their right to consider all legitimate alternatives. We hold that no state
has an interest to protect in this area except for the fair and efficient
conduct of elections.

The Australian ballot system, introduced into the United States in the
late nineteenth century, is an abridgement of freedom of expression and
of voting rights. Under it, the names of all the officially approved
candidates are printed in a single government sponsored format and the
voter indicates his or her choice by marking it or by writing in an
approved but unlisted candidate's name. We should return to the
previous electoral system where there was no official ballot or
candidate approval at all, and therefore no state or federal restriction of
access to a "single ballot." Instead, voters submitted their own choices
and had the option of using "tickets" or cards printed by candidates or
political parties.

In order to grant voters a full range of choice in federal, state, and local
elections, we propose the addition of the alternative "None of the above
is acceptable" to all ballots. We further propose that in the event that
"noneof the above is acceptable" receives a plurality of votes in any
election, the elective office for that term should remain unfilled and
unfunded.

[replaced by the following language]

We have seen governments abroad use their political power to
stifle political competition and crush political opposition. The
same process is taking place in America. Laws are being passed
which make it harder for political challengers to get on the ballot
and harder for new political parties to establish their own rules for
nomination procedures, primaries, and conventions. We believe
that such laws are inconsistent with the First Amendment rights
assuring freedom of association and freedom of expression. We
call for minimal ballot access requirements and an end to
regulation of political parties by law.

We favor repeal of the Federal Election Campaign Act which
limits the ability of Americans to support the political candidates
of their choice and, at the same time, forces taxpayers to subsidize
politicians and political views which many do not wish to support.

We also recognize that, at times, a majority of voters are not
supportive of any candidate for a given office. We support the
addition of "None of the above is acceptable" to all ballots. We
further propose that in the event that "None of the above is
acceptable" receives a plurality of votes in any election,a new
election for that office must be held with new candidates.